AMAZING FAMILY OF 18 •❥ Feeling excited, the first time I noticed these ducklings cuddled together in the grass… I thought maybe there were 8 or 9 fluffy, beautiful ducklings. When they all popped up to the count of (16) I was amazed… I’d never seen so many in one clutch. They quickly trusted me, therefore becoming part of my treasured extended feathered family.

Every afternoon, I would find them huddled together under the trees, waiting for their daily delivery of wild bird mix, that I was thrilled to deliver. It was truly heartening to see them all survive, and fly around our lakes as one. Eventually, the whistler ducks leave, before returning about six months later. They have all just returned to our local lakes… I wonder if my precious ‘family of 18’ are amongst them?

♥ GRASS WHISTLING DUCK •❥ The plumed whistling duck also called the grass whistling duck, with it’s loud sibilant whistle… is one of two whistling or tree ducks found in Australia. During the day the plumed Whistling-Duck congregates in large numbers with other waterfowl, on the margins of lagoons, swamps and mangrove creeks, for preening and sleeping. At night they fly out, often quite long distances, to feed on grasslands.